Adjusting means for lathe attachments



Aug. 19, 1947. E. BAERWALDE ADJUSTING MEANS FOR LATHE ATTACHMENTS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Sept. 29, 1941 INVENTOR Y fml/fifichm/c/e Aug. 9, 1947. E. BAERWALDE 2,425,780

ADJUSTING MEANS FOR LATHE ATTACHMENTS Original Filed Sept. 29, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

7- I E. BAERWALDE 2,425,780 I ADJUSTING MEANS FOR, LATHE ATTACHMENTS Original Filed Sept. 29, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

INVENTOR.

Patented Aug. 19, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTING MEANS FORLATHE. ATTACHMENTS Emil Baerwalde, Cleveland; Ohio @riginalapplication Septembe1 ;-;2;9,-1941, Serial No. 412,890, new Patent No. 2,360,387, dated Setober 17, 1944. Divided and this application "July It, 1944, Serial No. 544,173

3 Claims.

iThis invention relates to an improved means of-adjustment to be employed in connection with a lathe, and is adivision of my co-pending application Serial No. 412,890, filed September 29,

1941, now Patent No. 2,360,387, granted October both as toelevation and vertical angle.

Another object is to provide improved means for'indicating the vertical angle to whichthe tool is adjusted withrespect to the longitudinal axis of the work.

Another object is to provide a stabilizing means for maintaining the tool in proper operative relation to the work during vertical angular adjustment of the tool.

In-carrying out these several objects, I have devised a compact, convenient and efiicient form of mechanism which constitutes another feature of my present invention and therefore another specific object.

Other objects Will appear from the following description and claims when considered together with the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a top plan view illustrating the manner in which a lathe attachment may be made to embody the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a view taken on line 22 of Fig. l and may be referred to as a front elevation;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation thereof;

Fig. 4 is a view corresponding toline 4-4 of either Fig. 2 or Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view taken on line 5-45 of Fig. 2 and also Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a view corresponding to line 6-6 of Figs. 4 and 5;

Fig. 7 is an elevation of one of my special cutters which may be employed in connection with this device for cutting screw-threads;

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of a portion of the device and illustrates especially the indicator means; and

Figs. 9, 10 and 11 illustrate three different forms of special cutters which may be employed with this device for the cutting of three different types of screWjthreads, ascovered by the aforesaid parent application.

It -is' to be understood that the present form of disclosure i -merely for the purpose of illustration 'and'that theremight'be devised various "modifications thereof Without departing from the spirit of'my invention asherein set forth and claimed. 7

Even at the risk of some duplication of subject "matter already appearing in the above-mentioned parent application, the same detailed description \villbe set forth herealso in order to ensure a full and clear understanding of the accompanying illustration and hence of the particular invention towhich the following claims are directed.

The above-mentioned attachment is intended to be secured-in any suitable manner upon the cross-slide C of the'carriage' C of a conventional form of lathe, as indicated in Fig. 1. As therein indicated, the attachment is so positioned that the rotatable axis of the cutting element thereof bears an angular relation laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the stocks which is rotatably mounted in the lathe so as to have the screw-thread cuttherein, the thread being indicated by reference letter T. 'I'he'angular arrangement of the attachment with respect to the lathevis not limited to one particular angle but there is a definite relation and agreement between this angle and the particular design of the cutteri That is to say, the form of the cutter will correspond with the particular angle referred to in :order to ensure that the cutting surface of the thread-cutter will assume proper relation to the longitudinal axis of the stock S when in position to be cut' with a thread, this involving a special form of cutter for each formof thread to be out.

In the particular form ofattachment herein disclosed, bottom I ofthebracket is adapted to be bolted at2 in fixed position upon the crossslide Cof carriage 'C'of a conventional lathe so as to thereby support the entire attachment thereupon. "After centering the axis of the cutting shaft with respect to that of the stock spindle of the lathe, this'bracket will be set and secured' at the desired anglelaterally with respect to the lathe, as above explained and as indicated in Fig. 1. This same bracket has the upright wall 3- which supports the operating mechanism of the attachment, while the top part 401? this bracket-supports the electric motor M for the operation of the attachment mechanism.

The shaft of the 'motor'Mhas the pulley '5 which has belt connection 6 with the compound idler pulley l which in turn has belt connection 8 with the pulley 9 on hollow spindle 9A which is rotatably mounted in the shaft housing It. As will be explained below, the housing I 9 is capable of compound adjustment; and the compound pulley l is slidably supported in the slot II in the arm l2 which is pivotally mounted at l3 upon the depending flange 4A of the bracket, while its forward end ha adjustable means of engagement M in the arcuate slot l5 in the depending flange 4A. Thus, upon releasing the means of engagement M, the arm l2 can be adjusted so as to always obtain the proper degree of tautness in the pulley belts and thereby compensate for the adjustment of the housing lb of the cutter spindle.

The cutter spindle comprises the member IE, which has spline connection with the pulley 9, and the member I! which has tapered engagement within the other end of the hollow spindle 9A and has screw-threaded connection with the member It so as to be drawn into operative connection, as indicated in Fig. 5. The member IT is adapted to receive any one of a set of cutters which can be interchangeably attached thereto by means of a screw and washer means l8. One of the cutters is illustrated in assembly at the point indicated by reference numeral I9.

The purpose of the adjustment of the housing I!) is to obtain the proper straight-line elevation of the cutter with respect to that of the stock S to be threaded and also to obtain the proper angular relation of the cutter vertically with respect to the axis of the stock S, according to the incline of screw-thread desired in any given case. This compound adjustment is provided by means of the mechanism now to be described.

Upon the back of the upright wall 3 of the bracket there is mounted the plate 20 for vertical slidable adjustment, as indicated at 2!, there being provided the gib 22 and screw pin 22A for releasably locking the plate 26 in adjusted position. Such vertical adjustment of the plate 28 is effected by means of the rack and pinion mechanism 23, this pinion being capable of manipulation by means of its outwardly projecting shaft 23A.

The housing or shaft bearing i0 is mounted upon the plate 28 for vertical straight-line adjustment therewith and for simultaneous pivotal adjustment about a horizontal axis corresponding with that of the hollow projection 24 which is provided upon the front of the slidable plate 28 and through which extends the pin 25 on the body of the housing It so as to have rotary bearing therein for pivotal adjustment of the housing 68. The body of the housing I8 has plain flat face engagement with the plate 20 so as to permit such pivotal adjustment.

Within the annular race 26, provided within the body of the plate 20 and concentrically of the axis of pivotal adjustment of the housing It).

the axis of pivotal adjustment thereof, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 6. The floating members 2'! are individually adjustable about the axis of the hollow projection 25 and, will have movement thereabo-ut during adjustment of the cutter housing it Such adjustment may be effected when the nuts 29 and the gib-locking pin 22A are released; and the parts are then secured in the desired adjustment by these same locking means.

The stabilizer arm 36 is rigidly supported at the desired position upon and extends laterally from one side of the front part of the upright bracket 3 and affords compensating supporting connection for the outer end of the housing It]. Arm 3%! is adjustable in the slide-way 33 and has the screw 31 and companion screw holes 32 for locking in position. If so desired, arm 30 may be provided with a vertically elongated hole 30A for bolt 3! and a pair of vertically adjustable set screws 3GB for obtaining even finer adjustment of arm 38 than is afiorded by the spacing of holes 32. Arm 3% may be originally set by first centering and securing the axis of the cutter spindle, with members is and I? removed, between the centers of the head stock L and tail stock L of the lathe, this bein done while the several fastening means of the attachment are loosened and preferably With the attachment elevated above the lathe carriage. Then the bottom part of the attachment is lowered and fastened down onto the cross-slide C of the lathe carriage and, after releasing the cutter spindle from the lathe, the attachment is moved bodily with the cross-slide C of the lathe carriage C to proper extent forwardly from the center of the lathe spindle, and the bracket bottom I is adjusted to and fastened at the proper angle laterally upon the cross-slide C of the carriage C. The index arm, mentioned below, is set at zero. Then the device is ready for use in the manner herein explained and without any further attention being required than that herein outlined and without having to repeat the adjustment just described.

Housing I!) has rigid arm 16A extending along the rear of arm 3! and has compensating connection with the outer end thereof by means of bolt 3a which extends through bolt hole in arm MBA and extends freely through elongated opening 35 in arm 36 so as to be capable of horizontal slidable adjustment.

Upright wall 3 of the bracket has a vertical slot 3A through which extend hollow projection 26 and pin 25 for up and down vertical adjustment. Dial plate 36 is afiixed to the forward end of hollow projection 24 by means of nut 24A; and index member 3'! is aflixed to the end of pin 25 by means of nut 25A so as to move therewith and thereby indicate the degree of angular adjustment of housing It! and hence of shaft with respect to the stock.

As indicated in Figs. 2 and 8, dial 363 is graduated and is marked with numerals to be viewed through an opening in the index 3'; which is provided with a mark thereupon for reading the angle of movement of the member 3? and hence of the cutting shaft, thereby facilitating the setting of the cutter spindle at the desired angle vertically with respect to the axis of the stock 5. It is to be understood that the index member 3! alone has rotatable movement as the cutter spindle is adjusted in the manner described.

Now to summarize, after the axis of the cutter spindle has been centered with respect to the lathe, as above explained, the attachment is securely set at the desired angle laterally with respect to the position of the stock S. The device is then ready for use Without having to repeat such adjustment.

Then the angle of the cutter spindle vertically with respect to the axis of the stock S may be varied if, as and when desired, according to the incline of the screw-thread contemplated in any given case. This is accomplished by loosening the nuts 29, the pin 22A and the bolt B l so as to permit vertical straight-line adjustment of the plate 20 by means of the rack and pinion mecha nism and also simultaneous pivotal adjustment of the cutter shaft about the axis of the fixed horizontal projection at as it is bodily adjusted vertically with the plate 20. The dial 35 will have straight-line movement vertically with the plate 20 while the index member at will have rotary movement about the axis of its support and over the dial 36 as the index member is carried in operative position therewith during the vertical adjusting movement. When the cutter spindle has been set at the desired angle vertically with respect to the axis of the different stock S to be threaded, the nuts 29, the pin 22A and the bolt 3 Will all be tightened so as to secure the parts in such adjusted position. As will be understood, the indicating means will show the degrees of the angles of the screw-threads on different stock.

The carriage C is advanced and the stock S is rotated by the regular operating means of the lathe while the motor M operates the cutter.

In each of the several instances of cutters illustrated in Figs. 9, 10 and 11, it will be observed that the cutting surface of the cutter makes the angles a and d with the longitudinal axis of the work S, and also makes the angles b and c with the longitudinal axis of the cutter shaft ll; and that in all instances the following relationship exists between these several angles and the angle X:

In briefly summarizing the features of the present invention, it is to be noted that the housing I is given a compound adjustment, comprising straight-line and angular components of movement which are performed simultaneously and by means of a unitary manipulating means. By such adjustment, the vertical angle of the cutting shaft can be varied while maintaining the cutter itself always at the proper elevation with respect to the stock S, this being made possible by the compensating stabilizer connection which is provided for the housing of the cutter spindle. The present invention includes also an efficient and dependable form of indicating means. Then, as above suggested, another practical advantage of the present invention resides in the compact and convenient form of mechanism in which I have embodied the several features herein pointed out.

It is to be understood that this attachment may be mounted directly upon the cross-slide or upon the compound rest or upon whatever means with which the lathe is equipped, and the following claims are to be so interpreted.

What I claim is:

1. An attachment adapted to be applied to the carriage of a lathe, said attachment including a rotatable shaft and a cutting means operatively connected thereto for operative relation with respect to the work, and operating mean there- 6 for, said attachment including also a bracket adjustable vertically along a straight line for supporting said cutting means, said cutting means being also provided with means of rotatable angular adjustment upon said bracket in a vertical plane so as to permit variation of the inclination of the longitudinal axis of the cutting means with respect to that of the work, a laterally extending stabilizing arm mounted upon said carriage and having automatically compensating pivotal connection with the operating end portion of said cutting means so as to maintain the same in proper operative relation to the work during vertical angular adjustment of the cutting means.

2. An attachment adapted to be applied to the carriage of a lathe, said attachment including a rotatable shaft and a cutting means operatively connected thereto for operative relation with respect to the Work, and operating means therefor, said attachment including also a bracket adjustable vertically along a straight line for supporting said cutting means, said cutting means being also provided With means of rotatable angular adjustment upon said bracket in a vertical plane so as to permit variation of the inclination of the longitudinal axis of the cutting means with respect to that of the Work, a laterally extending stabilizing arm mounted upon said carriage and having automatically compensating pivotal connection with the operating end portion of said cutting means so as to maintain the same in proper operative relation to the Work during vertical angular adjustment of the cutting means, and means for effecting vertical adjustment of said stabilizing arm bodily upon said carriage.

3. An attachment adapted to be applied to the carriage of a lathe, said attachment including a rotatable shaft and a cutting means operatively connected thereto for operative relation with respect to the work, and operating means therefor, said attachment including also amounting, a bracket adjustable vertically on said mounting along a straight line for supporting said cutting means, said cutting means being also provided with means of rotatable angular adjustment upon said bracket in a vertical plane so as to permit variation of the inclination of the axis of the cutting means With respect to that of the Work, said means of rotatable adjustment including an annular race-way and a plurality of floating bearing members arranged radially in said raceway about the aXis of such rotatable adjustment, means for releasably locking said floating members in adjusted position, means connecting said mounting and said means of rotatable angular adjustment for maintaining said cutting means in operative relation to the Work during such adjustments, and means for indicating the degree of vertical inclination of said cutter shaft.

EMIL BAERWALDE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,057,005 Miles Mar. 25, 1913 1,974,084 Sarossy Sept. 18, 1934 1,991,500 Eklind Feb. 19, 1935 813,381 Hanson Feb. 20, 1906 

